Has any one rode the horse trails in Shimek State Forest near Donnellson? What is the terrain like? The condition of the trails or any other helpful info.
Posted 2009-04-19 9:19 AM (#103598 - in reply to #103533) Subject: RE: Iowa horse trails
Regular
Posts: 63 Location: Missouri
I've been there. The trails are beautiful and have a little more variety then the other trails offered in Iowa. There is a great privately owned horse camp called RiverValley Horse Camp that connects up with Shimek. They have full hookups, 12x12 covered stalls and an arena. Super nice people own it and really take good care of their guests. I would highly recommend going. You'll have plenty of trails to ride over the course of several days. The website for river valley is www.rivervalleyhorsecamp.com
Posted 2009-04-19 9:49 AM (#103600 - in reply to #103533) Subject: RE: Iowa horse trails
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309 Location: MO
We like Shimek. Good trails over moderate hills and several creek crossings. You can ride to a town where the northernmost battle of the Civil War was fought. It's on the shore of the Des Moines River. Yankees on one side of the river. Confederates on the other lobbing cannon balls at each other.
Shimek has two campsites, each has about a dozen primitive sites with covered stalls for horses. We've looked at the new, private campground but never stayed there.
It's an easy drive from Illinois. Our first trip to Shimek was when we lived in northern IL. We now live in northern MO and Shimek is only about 2 hours away.
Posted 2009-04-22 6:51 PM (#103781 - in reply to #103533) Subject: RE: Iowa horse trails
Veteran
Posts: 207 Location: Illinois
We go there about once a year, it's great riding. Pretty moderate terrain, and lots of trails to make it worth your while. The first time we went we were with people that live around there. I commented that I like to ride hills, not flat stuff. So the guy went on some pretty nice hills, fun, but not too crazy. My horse was just 2 then, and did fine.
Posted 2009-07-01 9:44 AM (#107401 - in reply to #103533) Subject: RE: Iowa horse trails
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
River Valley Horse Camp is awesome. There are electric and water hookups at all the sites, the bathrooms are amazing (I actually took pictures!) There's XM radio piped in, its air conditioned, marble countertops, etc. The lodge is beautiful, the hosts are so kind and hospitable, the stalls are nice AND they have their own trails that don't close on account of rain. You can't actually ride Shimeck if it rains, but river valley's trails are always open, so at least you can do a few nice loops. It does hook up with shimeck though for when the trails are open. I just went there 2 weekends ago and it was very muddy. But it also rained most every day I was there. Anyhow, river valley is spotlessly clean, beautiful, and worth going to. I can't say enough good things about it!
Iowa horse trails
